Z’s Reviews > Guess Again > Status Update

Round to 3 because not a single character was memorable so the "she" pronoun game to not let us know who was Lindsay, Harriet, Portia, Eugenia wasn't sly but kind of a nuisance

3* but idk if id rec this to anyone tbh

The pace was the winning factor because even tho the chapter titles were a nuisance the story chugged on; I think it started as one thing and ended as a completely different beast that I didn't expect nor really care for, overall I'd give a 4 for beginning and 2.5 for the second half, so like 3.25?

Honestly the beginning got me hooked and it has such a high rating but I don’t see it. There are some repetitions that seem almost an editing issue and not for reminding, the characters are absolutely a chunk of nothing in terms of personality, and yes there’s a lot of coincidences but that is par for the course for modern thrills unfortunately so you just have to enjoy it for what it is.

-too much driving (at one point they drive two hours to get a package when like they’re rushing to save Portia???)
-sex scenes unnecessary and uncomfortable
-testosterone product placement (specific in gun, tactical vest, plane, boat)
-omg did this pass the bechdal test? Even when Callie spoke to Lindsay it was about her “mom” but she was lying and it was about Blake

+pace
+kept my attention
+prologue
-characters are 1D, even Francis, don't get me started on self-insert Ethan
-storm-kun
-indigenous man sacrificed for white woman’s plot
-Ethan’s detective prowess is perfect example of told not shown... he didn't do a dam thing lol. Frances gave him everything and thru Lindsay!

Anyone with issues that all the characters are conveniently connected have never read a modern thriller which shame on us for expecting better atp

So like Kai is dead, Blake never got a dam thing for sleeping with 17 yr olds at his SCHOOL WHERE HE WORKED, Lindsay turning on her bff I guesssss makes sense cuz she's only 17 but like... really? Maddie leads the new case despite my previous qualms w it... sighhhhhhh

The twist with the dad... without any build up or even letting it settle just cut straight to one year later, it really felt completely unnecessary to involve the dad in the plot, so like what was the purpose?

The twists I did enjoy were Blake coach being a dick as his only crime, Lindsay being a stone cold killer, and fiiiiinally understanding that Harriet was Eugenia’s twin (that’s the only twist I guessed)

a lotttttt of belief suspension going on here but it’s a thriller book they’re usually off the rails but Maddie not having eyes on her gun and Ethan leaving her just going to get supplies in storm-kun?!? That’s the biggest sin cmon now, after chapters of bland af doctor ex detective pilot WWE extraordinaire, this is what I had an issue with

Kind of felt like Francis figured out this case FOR Ethan. How much investigation did he really do besides get Christian to hack for him

Had the same short cliff hanger chapters that that one book had I don’t like I forgot the name, where you can get away with reading like the last paragraph only cus the rest felt like filler

Oh the Da Vinci code!

Ethan never used his Dr training for plot, I mean he took care of some of the indigenous ppl but nothing else. No personality either

Why is Maddie the lead on the Francis case at the end? What about trauma, conflict of interest idk?? Also no personality. Andddd why wasn’t she tapped to be the lead in THIS book instead of the possible sequel like doing that nonsense move makes choosing Ethan unrealistic